posted
Blackout in Negotiations With Major Communications Company
Last Update: 10:31 AM ET Apr 24, 2007
TORONTO, Apr 24, 2007 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- Blackout Media Corp.'s (PINKSHEETS: BKMP) -- Blackout Communications, the parent company to The Fight Network are in serious negotiations with a major North American communications/media company to acquire Blackout Communications, terms are not available at this time. "We have been involved in ongoing discussions for some time now with this significant multi-media communications company to sell Blackout Communications to them and it is finally coming to a conclusion," says Sandy Winick, president of Blackout Media. "As we are a significant shareholder of Blackout Communications we have a vested interest in the outcome of these talks. Now we are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel," he added. "Being a part of this larger organization will allow The Fight Network to meet its short and long term goals of being the source for combatant entertainment around the world. This will certainly allow us to expand swiftly into the United States and other parts of the world, which will allow our fans, especially those in the United States to experience what has been a run-away success in Canada," he continued.
Is this good news or bad? lol
-------------------- Luv is the Answer :) Posts: 130 | From: Austin, Texas | Registered: May 2006
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posted
How fawkin sad...over 1.5b traded yesterday and we close even, now today nothing and i mean NOTHING but dumping at the bid. Good luck to whoever is still in this POS, this ain't ever gonna move anywhere as long as Sandy, the jagoff, is CEO!
Posts: 3026 | From: Chicago | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
this stock is pretty much done....14 billion shares? or is it 15...either way that is a TON....massive....1.3 billion shares trade in one day and no movement?
well there goes my money put into this.
looks exactly like another QBID...same business plan different type of programming
-------------------- It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so. Posts: 6949 | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
It's still too early to write this one off. We still haven't heard the details of the buyout yet. It could really change everything as the stakes could be huge. I would expect for the better than the worst.
Posts: 1269 | From: Dallas, Tx | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
Bid 0.0001 x Ask 0.0002, approaching 2 billion, yes, 2 BILLION in volume. LOL guess I'm going without lunch tommorow...
-------------------- One is never completely useless. One can always serve as a bad example. Posts: 2430 | From: CA | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
Yep, somethings going on. Cold feet maybe. Could be the buyback. Could be shorts trying to cover. I'm holding for the buy-out details.
Posts: 1269 | From: Dallas, Tx | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
There was a time volume like this meant that I was making money off of this stock, but not now.
Posts: 288 | From: South Florida | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
Looks like lots of bailing, probably just what SW wants. Oh well
-------------------- Be Careful Of The Toes We Step On Today, They Could Be Attached To The Butt We Have To Kiss Tomorrow Posts: 4727 | From: Elk Grove ( Sacramento )CA USA | Registered: Jun 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Homersbud: Wow, 3.49b served today! How pathetic.
well one way to look at it is maybe 2HR sold back to Sandy. Also at 25% of todays volume maybe Sandy bought back 870 million today...LOL
Posts: 1637 | Registered: Apr 2004
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why is it when something bad happens to this stock like billions in volume and no movement or it begins to drop...its all apart of the buyback plan or some secret op sandy is doing?
-------------------- It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so. Posts: 6949 | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
who knows! nobody knows where the shares go and how many! i mean we were kind of duped into thinking we were a 13 BILLION share O/S and then WHAMO
surprise! billions more out there!!!
oh by the way while there is an increase in O/S we PR a share buyback from time to time to get people happy.
ugh! not happy!
-------------------- It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so. Posts: 6949 | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
OK.... In today for 10 more mil at .0001...Put it in at about 3:55 and got it immediatly. I believe that SW is cleaning up the CD before sale of the company. (????) Right now, using round numbers, BKMP is valued at between 1.5 million and 3 million dollars This means that TFN/BCO is valued at between 7.5 million and 15 million..at takeout...?????? I believe the offer will be significantly higher than that...and that we'll see the real BKMP value in the not to distant future. Any news on the divy conversions ??
posted
President of Fight Network goes one on one with MMAWeekly
23 Jun 2005
Ryan Bennett sat down with the man who will launch the first fight network in North America, Mike Garrow in our Interview of the Week.
MMAWeekly: Mike you broke the story on MMAWeekly last Monday that The Fight Network has struck a deal with PRIDE FC as part of your MMA programming line up. Can you tell our readers a bit more about The Fight Network, its launch plans in Canada and what other types of programming they can look for on the channel?
Mike Garrow – The Fight Network is a cross-platform media company with interest in television, radio, print and online content offerings; we are prepared to launch our 24/7 combatant sports television specialty service into the Canadian market (summer of 2005.) Our channel is dedicated to delivering the best of boxing, wrestling, mixed martial arts and related movies, documentaries and news twenty-four hours a day.
The Fight Network Inc.... Ryan was granted a Category 2 broadcast license to operate in Canada a twenty-four hour specialty channel to be billed as; TFN-The Fight Network.
This license was approved by the Canadian Radio and Television Commission ("CRTC") which is the governing body in Canada that legislates and approves the operating of broadcast services.
We where thrilled to announce our programming agreement with PRIDE FC last week. As you know and I know your readers do, PRIDE is a world class organization. The fact that our viewers in Canada will be able to view PRIDE events on a more frequent bases on our channel each month adds a great lift to our MMA line up.
MMAWeekly: What is your goal for this new network?
Garrow: The goal for The Fight Network is really about the building of a brand; that over time consumers will come to identify us as a multi-platform media leader in the world of combatant sports. It may seem grand but we are in this for the long haul.
MMAWeekly: We have heard so many rumblings of new networks coming about, you will be the first 24 hour fight network launched in North America. What other programming will be on the network?
Garrow: As I understand it we (The Fight Network) will be the first come August upon our Canadian launch. The fact that we are combining all various disciplines and genres makes us differ from others that have discussed in the media their versions of a “fight channel”, but at the end of the day I think it will be all the auxiliary business models that The Fight Network have planed for our brand that will set us apart.
MMAWeekly: Pride of course was the first MMA organization you signed, what about other organizations?
Garrow: We will be making other announcement in the coming weeks regarding other organizations we will be working with and the events we have acquired. As you know Ryan; each MMA promotion brings something a little different to the table in terms of their shows so we want to let the additional announcements stand on their own. I’m sure however when it comes time to rolling out the info we will look to MMA Weekly as a way to get the message out to readers/viewers regarding the rest of our MMA line up.
MMAWeekly: The Canadian fans are obviously thrilled with the announcement, but the fans in America are obviously jealous. When will we see the Fight Network comes to the States?
Garrow: We have had many American consumers hit our site asking us that very question, and I’m sure when they see our new site that is scheduled to roll out with the channel launch in early July many more request will come.
All I can say at this time is we are working on it. The US is certainly a larger marketplace but if MMAWeekly (readers) want to request The Fight Network from their local MSO’s, Satellite and IPTV providers simply let them know about us and we will keep our American friends up to date on our progress via our new website.
MMAWeekly: What are going to be the biggest obstacles you will face launching a new fight network?
Garrow: Well in terms of the Canadian marketplace we have certainly passed a major one by being granted our 24 hour broadcast license by the Canadian government, but in terms of other challenges I think it will be just getting the word out that this service is up a running, but I also think we will work through that like any other new product coming to market, its about being creative and getting the message out not only through traditional media buys but grass roots and focused outlets like this interview thanks to MMA Weekly.
MMAWeekly: Talk about your background. How did you get involved with the Fight Network and what is your favorite sport that you will televise on your network?
Garrow: My background is from the interactive world, how I got involved in this is when they launch many of the new digital television channels in Canada I was heading up some of the WebTV application for some other companies looking to launch new services. I came up with the idea that I pitched to my buddy’s from my recreational hockey team. A 24 hour channel that showed All Fights, All the Time “The Fight Network,” they loved the idea I loved the idea so I went about it. As it turned out one of the guys on my team was a financer (Sandy Winick) he liked the idea as well. I guess you could say it was a meeting over beer and wings that got this whole thing rolling. Two years later we are getting ready to launch, it is some what surreal.
In terms of my favorite sport (entertainment) we will be airing pro wrestling, always loved it as a kid growing up, but I do have to say that having now attended some live MMA events and looked at a lot more shows that our programming department is pulling in I can see why people get hooked on this stuff so quickly its right up in your face, something that I’m hoping our channel will be like when it hits the airwaves this summer.
MMAWeekly: We appreciate the time and can't wait to see your future which we hope includes programming in the U.S....thanks Mike.
Garrow: Thank you Ryan, we are looking forward to Getting it On!
-------------------- One is never completely useless. One can always serve as a bad example. Posts: 2430 | From: CA | Registered: Jun 2005
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TORONTO (CP) - The Fight Network celebrates its first anniversary Friday, living proof that there is an audience 24-7 for punching, kicking, choking and wrestling. I think we're probably further ahead than what we thought we'd be at this point in time, network chairman and co-founder Sandy Winick said happily The network is doing so well that it has pushed up plans to provide content to mobile phone providers. Fight Mobile is available on Singular, Verizon and Sprint in the U.S. and Telus in Canada, with hopes to add Bell and Rogers at home - and take the product overseas.
The service delivers news on boxing, wrestling and mixed martial arts. For a big fight, for example, it offers a round-by-round live text commentary. It also provides fight listings and odds. On the Sprint system, Fight Mobile currently ranks second in popularity to ESPN among the nine sports offerings. Not bad for less than a year for two Canadian guys, said network president-COO and co-founder Mike Garrow. Big plans cost big money, pushing back the network breakeven point. But Garrow and Winick don't seem concerned. We anticipate that we would probably be in a positive cash flow probably by '08 at the latest, Winick said.
The Fight Network currently ranks as Canada's most successful digital sports channel, ranking ahead of several others bankrolled by major industry players. Its Saturday night airings of mixed martial arts shows from the Pride Fighting Championship library have pulled in some 55,000 viewers, which is huge in the digital world. A more average figure for network viewing would be 4,000, but the number is growing. And while they are not Dancing With the Stars numbers, it's not bad in the fragmented digital universe where interests range from pets to hunting.
The digital network is currently available in 80 per cent of Canada, with Western Canada the lone black hole. Garrow and Winick hope to fill that gap soon by bringing Shaw Cable into the fold. What started with two employees now has 30. All are fight fans of some kind, according to Garrow. And fight aficionados are demanding, the 35-year-old Ottawa native adds. The Fight Network knows it has to constantly feed the monster. You can only go so far with canned programming from second-tier fights series, of interest only to the hardcore fans. With top boxing and MMA cards attracting pay-per-view buy rates in the high six figures, the Fight Network is looking to piggyback on that interest.
So in recent days, it has sent camera crews to Las Vegas to do pre-and post-fight shows for major fight events. It is also building its own fight news service, going where only speciality Internet sites have gone before. If you're a fight fan, this is definitely the service for you, Garrow said. So when we conceived of this from the get-go, it was always about making this service not just a digi (digital channel) but a new specialty service.
Because ultimately our plan is to take this service into America. And if you're going to bring a service into America, you've got to step up. It's the old saying 'With America go big or go home.' That's what we've got to do. They expect to be south of the border in some capacity in 2007, which would be a first for one of the Canadian digital networks. They have been planning the move for some time. Some 70 per cent of the programming currently shown is cleared for use in both the Canadian and U.S. market.
Neither Garrow and Winick had real TV roots. Ask them what background they brought to the channel and they both say none. Garrow, who had been involved in interactive gaming and web TV, started thinking about a fight channel in 2001 during the initial launch of digital channels. He sat through CRTC hearings and the idea percolated, leading him to mention it to Winick, a financier with whom he had worked in the past.
As the story goes, the idea for a fight network was raised over beer and wings after playing hockey. Garrow asked his teammates what they thought of a network that was fights all the time. They all said 'Garrow, that would rock. Good luck to you. ' Garrow and Winick are the majority owners of the networks, although there are other investors. Today, the Fight Network is housed in a warehouse-like office on the third floor of a downtown building. The network just moved into a bigger space, with plans to build a set for its own programming. Fight posters adorn the industrial chic space. There is plenty of room to grow, and Garrow and Winick have big plans.
On the ground floor, an outfit named Channel Zero looks after the technical end of putting the programming on air in a control centre that looks like a fancy security console with laptops and monitors. Channel Zero's menu also includes an old-movie channel and several adult channels. With the Fight Network encompassing boxing, wrestling and mixed martial arts, Garrow says it can ride out the peaks and valleys in each sport.
MMA is red-hot right now with newcomers like the WFA and IFL springing up in territory that previously was the domain of the UFC. Other boxing shows include Showtime boxing, Shobox, Guilty Boxing, Ballroom Boxing and Broadway Boxing. MMA and kick-boxing content includes Pride, K-1 and Superleague. On the wrestling front, the menu includes TNA, Ring of Honor, Noah and FMW from Japan with Mexican and classic wrestling shows waiting in the wings. The network has also bought an interest in Live Audio Wrestling, a popular radio show in Toronto which is now syndicated in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Winnipeg.
There is more studio programming planning. The network had hired Pride commentator Mauro Ranallo, a Vancouver native, to host a weekly news show called The Fight Zone. He will also provide hourly news hits between programs. A fight sports ticker is also in the works. During the week, the network also plans to segments on fight training and tips from the pros. The news coverage will come a variety of sources including Live Audio Wrestling. They have hired Jason Abelson to follow boxing and are adding Loretta Hunt, former managing editor of Full Contact Fighter, to cover mixed martial arts. Former UFC champion Randy Couture and fighter-commentator Frank Trigg will provide MMA analysis.
-------------------- One is never completely useless. One can always serve as a bad example. Posts: 2430 | From: CA | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
So Sandy Winick and Mike Garrow are Co-Founders and Majority owners of The Fight Network (TFN), but Sandy Winick is also Chairman, Pres and Sec. of BKMP which generates undisclosed revenues from its 20% ownership in TFN?
-------------------- One is never completely useless. One can always serve as a bad example. Posts: 2430 | From: CA | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
TLC (the learning channel) is showing the TFN commercials?? Advertising in the States for the first time on cable tv. Can only mean good things!
Posts: 1637 | Registered: Apr 2004
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-------------------- One is never completely useless. One can always serve as a bad example. Posts: 2430 | From: CA | Registered: Jun 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Bigrod40: Shaw in Canada, they have TLC on it.
How is that advertising in the states? Just because you saw it while watching TLC doesn't mean that it was seen by everyone everywhere who is watching TLC. It just means that is what Shaw Communications chose to air for that particular commercial break.
-------------------- One is never completely useless. One can always serve as a bad example. Posts: 2430 | From: CA | Registered: Jun 2005
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well one way to look at it is maybe 2HR sold back to Sandy. ![[Cool]](cool.gif)
TLC (the learning channel) is showing the TFN commercials??
